Highlights Kruger, Winelands and Cape Town - Classical Tour

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The Experience

South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world, a place where you will find exotic combinations of landscape, people, history and culture for a unique experience exploring South Africa's breath-taking surroundings on Highlights Kruger, Winelands and Cape Town Tour.

South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world, a place where you will find exotic combinations of landscape, people, history and culture that offer the traveller a totally unique experience. From the pristine beaches of Cape Town and South Africa's world-renowned wine estates, to the thrilling wildlife safaris of the Kruger National Park, this fascinating South African self-drive expedition is a journey of a lifetime. It's a trip that combines the natural beauty, cultural diversity and African wildlife experience with the trendy metropolis of Cape Town and its breath-taking surroundings.

From the buzzing city of Johannesburg you will travel east to South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, one of the country's top tourist destinations. Here you will get to see the famous Panorama Route, one of the scenic highlights of any tour through South Africa. Few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the Lowveld and escarpment. Further north-east, in the expanse of the Lowveld, you'll find the world's biggest game reserve, better known as Kruger National Park.

Experience the magnificent Panorama Route with its dramatic landscapes and become one with the African bush while looking out for the "Big Five" on safaris at Karongwe Private Game Reserve and Kruger National Park.

From there, a domestic flight from Johannesburg takes you south to the Western Cape Province where you will explore the pulsating city of Cape Town and the picturesque Cape Winelands. You'll spend time tasting some of the world's finest wines, exploring the beauty of the countryside and experiencing the sights and sounds of South Africa's Mother City, Cape Town.

The tour comprises 11 nights and 12 days of adventure and includes car hire during your entire journey.

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Departure from the UK

Day 2 - Arrival Johannesburg - Ohrigstad

Upon arrival in Johannesburg you will be greeted by one of our local representatives, collect your hired car and set off east on a four-hour journey towards Mpumalanga. The route is simple and the roads are clearly marked with sign posts. While the first half of your journey might appear rather uneventful, the second half takes you through some of South Africa's most spectacular landscapes characterised by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. When you get to Hannah Game Lodge you will have the opportunity to enjoy your first guided game drive (extra charge) on the 8 000 hectare Private Nature Reserve with abundant wildlife. Relax by the pool and enjoy a sundowner on the veranda while watching the sunset in the late afternoon sky with a spectacular array of colours.

You will spend 2 nights at Hannah Game Lodge.

Travelling distance: approx. 360 km, driving time approx. 4 hours

Day 3 - Panorama Route

Today you get to explore the Panorama Route, leading through the rugged mountain range of the northern Drakensberg. Here in the north-eastern part of the escarpment, the inland plateau declines abruptly and opens up fantastic views of the Lowveld plains a thousand metres below. This view is most reliable in the dry winter months.
Your round-trip take you through Pilgrim's Rest, a historical gold-mining village which has been declared a national monument and boasts many quaint shops and museums. Make your way through Graskop with its countless waterfalls towards the northern part of the Panorama Route where you will find the most spectacular scenery. Visit the bizarrely shaped Bourke's Luck potholes and breath-taking viewpoints at God's Window and the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world.

Travelling distance: approx. 180 km, driving time: full day excursion

Day 4 & 5 - Xanatseni Lodge

Spend the morning at Xanatseni Lodge with some leisurely walks and great scenery. After checkout a gentle two hour drive will get you to Blue Canyon Conservancy, home to the "Big Five". Aim to arrive at the Lodge by 1pm, in time for a light lunch. You can use the time to get orientated with the lodge, have a dip in the pool or even a quick doze and then you will have your first game drive in the afternoon. The private reserves and concessions have many advantages over the national parks in South Africa - vehicles don't need to be covered, there are no other vehicles on the roads, rangers can follow animals off the roads and you can also go on bush walks and night drives.
Enjoy Boma dinners around a fire and beneath the stars that are truly invigorating The animals get off to an early start, and so you do too, It's the perfect time to spot elusive night-time predators that are still active. Your early morning game drives, and sunset safaris will be interrupted only by exquisite meals or poolside dozes. Spend these two days in the blissful routine of eating,sleeping and various wilderness activities.

You will spend 2 nights at Xanatseni Lodge.

Travelling distance: approx. 120 km, driving time approx. 2 hours

Day 6 - White River

Awaken to a spectacular African sunrise before embarking on a final guided morning safari through Xanatseni Reserve. After a sumptuous breakfast you continue your journey towards the east and the famous Kruger National Park. Your journey takes you through the sub-tropical town of Hazyview with its many fruit orchards. Hazyview is the gate to the Kruger National Park and the main hub in Mpumalanga for adventures and activities where visitors can enjoy the thrills of river rafting, tubing, abseiling, zipline, aerial cable trail and quad biking to name a few. For the less adventurous, Hazyview offers elephant interaction, elephant-back safaris, horseback safaris as well as cultural experiences.
At Shangana Cultural Village visitors experience the Shangaan way of life, including their history and customs, initiation ceremonies, the practice of polygamy, the outfits and weapons of masocho (warriors), the construction of homes, ornate beadwork clothing, and the preparation of food. Proceed to the picturesque and quaint town of White River where you will spend the night.

You will spend 2 nights in White River at Stille Woning Guest House

Travelling distance: approx. 120 km, driving time approx. 2 hours

Day 7 - Kruger National Park

Today you enter the borders of the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the primary destination in South Africa for most international tourists. You will explore the southern part of the park on a self-drive basis. Being the largest game reserve in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is larger than Israel.
Nearly 2 million hectares of land that stretch for 352 kilometres (20 000 square kilometres) from north to south along the Mozambique border is given over to an almost indescribable wildlife experience. The wildlife found in the Kruger National Park is unique: 114 different species of reptiles, 507 bird and 147 mammal species are represented here. Certainly it ranks with the best in Africa and is the flagship of the country's national parks. A network of 697 kilometre tarred road makes the Kruger Park an easy self-drive destination. The best time for observing the animals is the dry winter season. During this time the grass is low and the bushes and trees don't have leaves, giving you an unobstructed view.
Because it virtually doesn't rain in winter, the animals come to the waterholes to drink in the mornings and evenings and can easily be spotted from the car.

Travelling distance: approx. 100 km, driving time: full day excursion

Day 8 - White River - Johannesburg (Domestic Flight to Cape Town)

A five-hour journey takes you from Mpumalanga back to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where you will return your rental car and embark on a domestic flight to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Travelling distance: approx. 345 km, driving time approx. 4 ½ - 5 hours
Upon landing at Cape Town International Airport and collecting your hired car, you will take a 30 minute drive to the Cape Winelands, origin of some of the world's most popular wines and a destination of ultimate indulgence and relaxation just north of Cape Town.

The fertile green valleys of the Cape Winelands are surrounded by stunning mountain ranges that provide a breath-taking view. With hundreds of wine farms to discover and wines to taste, award-winning restaurants on every corner and wonderful scenery, the Cape Winelands is South Africa's equivalent of Provence in southern France. Enjoy the next two nights at a guest house in the beautiful and historic town of Stellenbosch the second oldest European settlement after Cape Town.

You will spend 2 nights in Stellenbosch at 107 Dorpstraat Hotel.

Travelling distance: approx. 35 km, driving time approx. 30 minutes

Day 9 - Cape Winelands

Enjoy the day exploring the heart of the Cape Winelands. Take a stroll through the historic towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek (also known as the culinary capital of South Africa) with its numerous Cape Dutch style buildings, boutiques, cafes, galleries and monuments. The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley, compromised of picturesque vineyards, breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and 300 years of history.

Travelling distance: approx. 100 km.

Day 10 - Stellenbosch - Cape Town

Just under an hour's drive from Stellenbosch takes you from the countryside to the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa's first European settlement which is fondly known as the Mother City. Cape Town lies in the arms of Table Mountain, more often than not shrouded in cloud and one of the world's most recognisable landmarks. Cape Town is said to be the favourite African city and it's not difficult to see why. The mother city of South Africa features wine farms, glamorous city life, Blue Flag beaches, unique nature reserves and a jam-packed calendar of cultural events all year round. And all this drama unfolds under the graceful omniscience of Table Mountain and its attendant peaks running the length of the peninsula.

You will spend 3 nights in Cape Town at Rockwell Hotel.

Travelling distance: approx. 55 km, driving time approx. 45 minutes

Day 11 & 12 - Cape Town & Cape Peninsula

Spend the last two days of your South African journey exploring the beauty of Cape Town and surroundings. Attractions in Cape Town are many and varied. Starting at the V&A Waterfront you have plenty to see and do and from there you can explore the city, the beaches, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Constantia Winelands. A must-do is a day excursion to Cape Point at the tip of the Cape Peninsula and Boulders Beach with its African penguin colony.

Day 13 - Departure Cape Town

Before departing towards the airport, spend some more time at the V&A Waterfront or strolling along Long Street with its numerous boutiques and shops. At Cape Town International Airport you return your hired car and proceed to the check-in counters for your outbound flight back to London.

The Holiday Place customer rating

We had a fabulous time. The holiday lived up to our expectations. The Panorama Route was a great experience. Manitlo Lodge and the game drives were a real highlight - The Kruger was good (but it rained all day for us). Long drive back to Jo'burg (perhaps a flight from the airport at the Kruger would...